Proposed legislation would fund cops in schools

The Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings that claimed the lives of 26 persons could serve as a catalyst to resurrect a federal program that provides funds to put police officers in schools.

U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows, a North Carolina Republican, introduced recently a bill that would revitalize the dormant Cops in Schools (CIS) grant program and fund it with $30 million annually.

U.S. Rep. Candice Miller, R-Harrison Township, has signed on as a co-sponsor of the measure.

The recent school massacre in Newtown, Conn. sent shock waves across the country,” Meadows said in a news release announcing his proposed Protect America’s Schools Act of 2013.

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“As a father, I grieved with the families who lost a loved one that day. And as a legislator, I vowed that I would take action to prevent future tragedies.”

Miller echoed her colleague’s sentiment.

“While some have attempted to focus this debate on actions that would not have prevented Newtown and would restrict the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens, I believe the focus of our efforts must be on what is most important – actually protecting our children,” the congresswoman said.

The CIS program, originated during the Clinton Administration. According to figures provided by Miller’s office, the program doled out more than $753 million to 3,000 law enforcement agencies between 1998 and 2005. Those agencies used the funds to hire more than 6,500 school resource officers as well as create long-lasting partnerships between law enforcement agencies and schools. Funding for CIS ceased in 2005.

“Every parent should be able to drop their children off at school in the morning with the knowledge that trained security officials are on site to keep them safe,” Miller said.

Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham recalled when his department used funds from the original CIS program to hire deputies and deploy them in several local school districts, including Chippewa Valley and L’Anse Creuse.

But the funds can create unintended consequences, the sheriff cautioned. Typically, the grant money is good for only three years. Funding for the fourth and subsequent years becomes the responsibility of the law enforcement agency or the schools. Often, those entities simply don’t have the money, the sheriff said.

“That’s the danger of these grants,” Wickersham said.

Still, Wickersham said he supports CIS and similar programs, provided funding issues can be addressed, and his department will watch the progress of the proposed legislation.

“We definitely would apply,” the sheriff said.

Meadows said a recent Gallup poll indicated 53 percent of Americans believe an increased police presence in schools would help prevent tragedies like the one visited upon Newtown. The proposed legislation could provide a means to that end, he said.

“It is not the only answer, but it is a critical step forward to protect our nation’s children.”

The $30 million annually necessary to finance the police grants would be offset by taking unspent funds from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, officials said.